ASM915

SR, Been there, felt that. 4th quarter elections to make room for AOL ceremonies in the first quarter? I like the concept. Our Chapter has 38 unit elections, & 60 Packs to worry about. But 4th quarter would never work for us. We have to many SM that want their elections as late in May as possible so more of their Scouts can achieve First Class. To try and make room for AOl's, this year we are going to ask the SM to please sign up on an early April Monday and an Early May Monday, same for Tuesday units, one Wed., one Thur, and one Sunday. On the Monday & Tuesday dates, we'll need 8 teams. On the other nights, we'll need. 3-4 teams. This would allow us to pull the elections off in 7 nights, and let us concentrate on AOLs. We have 1 unit that has refused to let us run an election for the last 6 years. And the SM use to be OA. He has never give a legitimate reason why he doesn't want elections. We have another that did the same, but let us run an election three years ago. They then went to an out of council camp, never had the youths Call-Out, or sent to Ordeal. Someone mention using Troop OA Rep's. We have more of a problem getting the SM to assign a Troop Rep then we do getting an election set up. I wish we had 20 active Rep's to help with elections.

SR, Been there, felt that. 4th quarter elections to make room for AOL ceremonies in the first quarter? I like the concept. Our Chapter has 38 unit elections, & 60 Packs to worry about. But 4th quarter would never work for us. We have to many SM that want their elections as late in May as possible so more of their Scouts can achieve First Class. To try and make room for AOl's, this year we are going to ask the SM to please sign up on an early April Monday and an Early May Monday, same for Tuesday units, one Wed., one Thur, and one Sunday. On the Monday & Tuesday dates, we'll need 8 teams. On the other nights, we'll need. 3-4 teams. This would allow us to pull the elections off in 7 nights, and let us concentrate on AOLs. We have 1 unit that has refused to let us run an election for the last 6 years. And the SM use to be OA. He has never give a legitimate reason why he doesn't want elections. We have another that did the same, but let us run an election three years ago. They then went to an out of council camp, never had the youths Call-Out, or sent to Ordeal. Someone mention using Troop OA Rep's. We have more of a problem getting the SM to assign a Troop Rep then we do getting an election set up. I wish we had 20 active Rep's to help with elections.

Meteor showers Thursday & Friday nights. Saw several last night while sitting at the fire in the backyard with Dave. To cloudy tonight. Jack, are you playing around with a new unit up in Buffalo? At camp, scouts from the other unit out in Calumet with us were using Google Sky, and another app. out on the dam. They both worked nicely, especially the one with the GPS app. 126 at OLOP took a tarp and painted the constellations on the underside. They have the scouts lay under the tarp, and teacj them the constellations before going to camp.

Kudo & Schiff, great sites & concepts. Clemlaw, great advice on involving the OA. Last Wednesday after Call-Outs, I had the chance to talk with a SM of a SN unit from a neighboring District, that is made up of all MR, ASD & Downs scouts. He told me that they were chartered through their Counties Board of DD. They meet one day a week at 1:30 while in school. Several of their scouts are Members of our OA Lodge. The lodge has been very understanding & patient with these Scouts, especially at Ordeal. The Lodge has also been very good with our youngest son who has an Autistic Spectral Disorder, an honored him with a Vigil Call-out this summer while at camp. We are planning on attending NOAC next year, hopefully on Staff at the Disability Awareness site. My youngest is mainstreamed in a regular Troop. Our only problem with our Troops is them not being comfortable and knowing being sure how to work with an over 18 y/o Scout. It is a slow process. Our Council tried a SN unit in our District a couple of years back, but tried it at one of the Workshops. It didn't work due to the location being a jobsite. I'm planning on talking with Council about trying again, but in a school setting this time. Special, keep up the great job, and keep us posted on how things work out.

Crisco, Do some homework. Do you know someone (an oldtimer)that is well respect from that District who you can talk with who knows this SM, and any history that he may have with OA. Depending on the background you get on the SM, you could eother approach the SM and discuss the situation, find out his true feelings, and try to find a solution to the situation, OR If there is a known issue with the SM & OA, refer to the Lodge Advisor about approaching the CC & CO and see if they can be any help. Maybe they do not know the SM is doing this. JTSwestark laid a lot of groundwork at getting our Chapter back up and running. Jack definitely influenced my in getting back involved with OA when my sons became involved. As stated in one of the posts,communication and educations are paramount to having a good chapter. Two years after Jack stepped back as CA, I moved into the postiton. Jack, we still have an issue with one of our SM always having a reason to not hold an election. I'm tempted to have an election/promotions team make a presentation at Fall Camporee if there is a common dinner, or go out to the campsites, then ask the scouts (SPL's) about setting election dates. Sort of an end round, but what is a SM to do if his unit is truly a boy run unit. Crisco, good luck, & keep is informed on what happens. YIWWW ASM915 PS: JTS, 2011 Lodge dues???? LOL

Twocub, I'm glad the meeting turned out good. I surprised that a couple of things were not brought up in this discussion & have a couple thoughts for future problems. 1) In discussions with the parents, was it asked if there had been any previous events like this away from scouting? Maybe the parents never thought of other incidents as a problem, and are missing a more serious & dangerous issue with the son. 2) Trip to the Burn Unit could voliate HIPPA depending how it is done. Possible things that future offenders have to do: 1) Firemanmship MB 2) Have a talk with the local Fire Chief. He might have some graphic pictures of burn victims (this of course with parents consent). Also if Chief has access to training center's fire/smoke house, (again with parents consent) suit and pack the scout up, and place him in the structure with the chief as the place is lit up so he has the expereince of feeling the heat & can seeing how fast things can happen. Waivers would have to be signed by a parties involved to pull this one off. 3) Next, off to talk with the MD's & Rn's that work the Burn Unit. 4) These doc's & RN's may ne involved with a burn victim support group that may have a victim or two that Marion Award be willing to talk to the scout about their experience (no HIPPA violation in play here). Maybe they would be willing to talk to the Troop or patrols at this scouts invite. 5) The scout then goes back to the Troop/patrol to give an indepth discussion and training on fire safety. The smokehouse, & face to face sitdown discussion with a burn victim will definitely have a lasting impression, hopefully for the better, on any Scout. Just 2 cents worth from someone with 25 year in Fire/Ems, 30+ in the ED, and 20 in Scouting. YIS ASM915

Twocub, I'm glad the meeting turned out good. I surprised that a couple of things were not brought up in this discussion & have a couple thoughts for future problems. 1) In discussions with the parents, was it asked if there had been any previous events like this away from scouting? Maybe the parents never thought of other incidents as a problem, and are missing a more serious & dangerous issue with the son. 2) Trip to the Burn Unit could voliate HIPPA depending how it is done. Possible things that future offenders have to do: 1) Firemanmship MB 2) Have a talk with the local Fire Chief. He might have some graphic pictures of burn victims (this of course with parents consent). Also if Chief has access to training center's fire/smoke house, (again with parents consent) suit and pack the scout up, and place him in the structure with the chief as the place is lit up so he has the expereince of feeling the heat & can seeing how fast things can happen. Waivers would have to be signed by a parties involved to pull this one off. 3) Next, off to talk with the MD's & Rn's that work the Burn Unit. 4) These doc's & RN's may be involved with a burn victim support group that may have a victim or two that might be willing to talk with the scout about their experience (no HIPPA violation in play here). Maybe they would be willing to talk to the Troop or patrols at this scouts invite. 5) The scout then goes back to the Troop/patrol to give an indepth discussion and training on fire safety. The smokehouse, & face to face sitdown discussion with a burn victim will definitely have a lasting impression, hopefully for the better, on any Scout. Just 2 cents worth from someone with 25 year in Fire/Ems, 30+ in the ED, and 20 in Scouting. YIS ASM915(This message has been edited by asm915)

MIB, In our Lodge, the Lodge Advisor usually chooses the CA. The District has no input. The term was usually for 3 years, longer if the interest is there. The first time the CA position became available, I let the outgoing CA know that I was interested. I was not well known to him at the time and was passed over for a SM whose Troop was heavily involved in the Lodge. When he stepped down to move into an advisor position at the lodge level, it was passed to an ASM Vigil from another unit. This CA stepped down when he became SM. I spent some time attending the Chapter meetings with my oldest son, getting to know the second CA well. My youngest ran for a Chapter officer position under the third CA. I offered to act as ACA helping him out. He informed me at a Winter Banquet that he was stepping down, dropping the hint. I'm not sure if he discussed the change with the LA or not, but there was not a problem with the transistion. The original CA I think still had reservations about the change. But over the last three years, the Chapter has grown in attendance at meetings and events. We have had Chapter events, and restarted an Call-Out team. Now the Council has merged Districts, meaning merged Chapters. We're now working with a large Chapter, over 300 members, comprising half of the Lodge's membership. Both of us CAs are working as Co-Advisors. Give it time, and make sure they know your around and interested. Be there and helpful. Ask the current CA what you can do to help him out. Show up at LECs, Ordeals, Chapter meetings, etc. Your time will come Good luck, Meschatamen

Roadkill, I think he'll surprise you & do well. As Chapter Advisor, I rely heavily on my younger members, especialy the pre-highschoolers, when it comes to elections & ceremonies at the Chapter level. Schiff, Good advise on informing the parents. Eagle92, are your candidates informed of their nomination at the time of election, or surprised at summercamp? When do you do your little informational sitdown with the candidates & parent, after Call-Outs, or before? Do you do this on a unit by unit bases, or have all potential candidates within the District, & parents come to a special meeting before the election season kicks off? I like that idea, and would be interested in trying this in our area. PM me with wpecifics. The poor parents usually have know idea what they are involved for.

Tagging a comment about the BOR on the electronic advancememt record is a good idea. Either make it direct & to the point, or with just enough informatio to possible pique the interest of the new troop to possibly call to ask questions. I definitely agree with Scoutnut. Let the mother know that you are complying with her request, and that you will immediately mail the requestion documentation to the new unit, or will be delivering it personally. By no means hand it over to mom.

J, You win the new word of the year award. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a belated Happy Chanukkah. And for Uncle Tio (Dean), Feliz Navidad.

Our Council merged our two largest Districts (population wise) back in January, creating the Mega-District. 80 units must be a reference number only. We have 45 Troops, around 100 Packs, and I'm not sure how many Crews. We do have a DE & DD handling the new District. We'll see how it works out.

Proud Eagle, On rereading the article, I agree, he doesn't mention who the CO is. I was initially misinterrpreting what I read, assuming (Oh no!! There's that "A" word)since it was in a Catholic site, that everything was Catholic. Shame on me. "That will be 10 Hail Mary's". LOL.

Our Polar Bear requirement is anytime from November 1st to the last day of March. Then again, living in NE Ohio, most nighttime temps are in the 30's, but we have had temps no lower the 50 on rare occassions. I know our ALTC (first second weekend in Nov.) the last two years had temps in the 60's & 70's. Then you have our Klondikes that have ranged from +25F down to high day temps of -13F. One year Council called out to Klondike and told the Troops staying Saturday night to go home. Temps were to be @ 0 with windchills of -15 that night. Said that if we stayed, they wouldn't cover any temp related injuries. Not like we would be sleeping outside. Then again, Council didn't chase us home the Day it never broke -10. We have a Polar Bear strip for the first year. Then we have four different colored bars to place on either side of the original patch, a different color for each of the five different years.